There are many noticeable changes to discuss in the annual ESPN Top 100 rankings. 

After an underwhelming 2024 playoff performance, a Denver Nuggets star guard and NBA champion failed to retain or improve his ranking from a season ago.

“(Jamal) Murray averaged career highs in points per game (21.2), and assists per game (6.5) and was one of three players to average at least 20 points, 6 assists and 40% 3-point shooting last season,” ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk wrote Wednesday. “But Murray didn’t look like Playoff Murray in Denver’s second-round loss to Minnesota, when he averaged 18.4 points and just 33% 3-point shooting, or during the Olympics when he averaged just 6.0 points for Team Canada this summer. Murray said he’s healthy and he has implored his teammates at the start of camp to understand the urgency of taking advantage of the championship window the Nuggets currently have with three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.”

Murray now sits at No. 31 on ESPN’s list, 14 spots lower than the ranking he earned in 2023. 

Murray enjoyed a tremendous regular season with the Nuggets last season but didn’t play his best basketball in the postseason. In the first round of the playoffs, the 6-foot-4 guard came up big for Mike Malone and the Nuggets, calmly sinking two game-winning jumpers in the closing seconds of games two and five. 

Unsurprisingly, the Nuggets eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers in five games and advanced to the Western Conference semifinals. 

Against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the former lottery pick only recorded two 20+ point scoring outputs and shot under 20% from the field on multiple occasions. Minnesota capitalized on Murray’s shortcomings and defeated Denver 4-3 in a highly entertaining second-round matchup. 

Murray suffered various setbacks throughout the season, including an elbow injury during the Nuggets’ 115-70 blowout loss to the Timberwolves in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals. Still, that didn’t hinder critics from scrutinizing him. 

In the Olympics, the Kentucky product was a no-show for his Team Canada squad in Paris. Many analysts believed Murray’s squad could challenge Team USA for a gold medal, but his poor play resulted in an early exit for the bunch. 

Entering the 2024-25 regular season, Murray appears to be dealing with a knee injury that could negatively impact the Nuggets. 

“Michael Malone said today Jamal Murray’s knee started feeling “funny” prior to last night’s game,” The Denver Gazette’s Vinny Benedetto reported Monday following the Nuggets’ third preseason contest. “They figured it was something that would dissipate during the game, but they decided to hold him out of the second half. Murray had ice bags wrapped around his knees today.”

The Nuggets elected to sideline Murray for Tuesday’s preseason game, which could indicate the injury is more serious than the organization is letting on. 

Hopefully, Murray will be available for Denver’s season opener next Thursday and play his way into a higher ESPN ranking. 

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